Mandrare River Camp

Mandrare River, Southern Madagascar

Madagascar Classic Camping's Mandrare River Camp has six tents and offers a luxury camping experience, with strong focus on local culture and the natural environment. Explore the Ifotaka community forest with its population of ring-tailed lemurs.

At a Glance

Take a walk in the sacred Ifotaka Community forest, protected by the Antandroy tribe

View lemurs from the stoop of your tent as they come to visit the camp

Take a walk along the river to find the jewelled malachite kingfisher

Visit the incredible sand dunes at Lac Anony, just crying out to be scrambled up

Marvel at the incredible, lunar landscape of the Spiny Forest

Adventure, Culture, Eco/ethical tourism, Off the beaten track

Insider's View

Go for the dusk bush walk and see which lemurs are watching you watch them.

Louisa Ross-Taylor

Insider's View

Make time to visit Lac Anony - a wonderful day trip!

Anna Hearn

Insider's View

An early morning walk through the spiny forest accompanied by your guide is magical

Call us on 858 523 9000 to start planning your vacation to Mandrare River Camp or take a look at our itineraries to Southern Madagascar

Description

Located in Southern Madagascar’s renowned Mandrare Valley, Mandrare River Camp offers a fabulous insight into nature and the local culture based on the East African style safari.

Set in the shade of Tamarind trees this beautiful tented camp sits on the edge of the Mandrare River. Guests awake to the sound of the local Antandroy tribe singing as they fetch water from the river; or children playing and splashing in the water and can explore the Spiny and Gallery Forests which are home to troops of ring-tailed lemurs and Verraux sifakas as well as tribal tombs.

The tents are simple in style but very comfortable with an authentic feel to them with beautiful hand-carved wooden furniture. All of the tents have en-suite bathrooms with fully-plumbed in shower and toilet with hot water provided by solar heaters.

By protecting the sacred forests, where their ancestors rest in ornate tombs, the Antandroy tribe have managed to preserve large wildlife areas which are amongst the most unspoiled in Madagascar. With particularly impressive examples of Spiny and Gallery Forest which are home to Verraux sifaka, ring-tailed, sportive and mouse lemurs as well as a variety of amphibians, reptiles and at least 15 species of birds which you will discover under the care of your expert guide. The camp also has strong links with the local community and a visit to the weekly market is well worth considering for the chance to have an insight to their traditional way of life.

Accommodation

Accommodation is in six large (17m²) tented rooms providing a comfortable, netted, four-poster bed, attractive handmade wooden furniture, electric lighting and private en-suite facilities including a biodegradable chemi-loo, safari shower and BioAroma toiletries. Each has a private furnished veranda from which to watch life on the river or birds in the trees. Tents can accommodate an extra bed for a child. Silent, environmentally friendly solar panels provide the electricity.

Childcare

This camp is not suitable for very young children, however older children can be accommodated in an extra bed in their parents tent.

Facilities

There is a main dining tent where delicious meals are served, including fresh bread and pastries every morning.

Activities

From camp guided walks and treks set off into the forest for a mix of wildlife and culture. Alternatively, it is possible to visit the local village and meet the Antandroy people.

Location & Directions

Mandrare River, Southern Madagascar

Located in the South of Madagascar near Fort Dauphin, Mandrare River Camp is spread out in the shade of tamarind trees, all with breathtaking views across the tranquil water to the sacred mountains beyond.

When to go

Any time of year is fine for a visit except from January to March, when heavy rainfall in many areas can make some roads all but impassable, and when there’s a high risk of cyclones in the east and northeast. In general, the best time to travel in most areas is April and October/November. The coolest time to travel anywhere is during the dry season (May to October).

Average maximum temperatures vary from about 30°C in coastal areas (higher in summer) to around 25°C on the hauts plateaux.

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